Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-03-18


Our allusion last week to lecture by
Rev. Henry Ward Beechor in Brattleboro,
in 1856, as our informer thought, brought
from West Bratteboro friend the correct
and exact date as learned from an old
diary. The year was 1854, instead of
1856, and the date was Tuesday evening,
Feb. 21st, when he spoke on the Ministry
of the Beautiful in the old Unitarian
church. On this occasion, as some Of our
older residents remember the afternoon
train from the south was 50 delayed that he
could not reach Brattleboro in season for
his lecture If he waited for Il aud he there
fore chartered an engine ut Springfield ~
bring him up. Mr.. Beerher must have
lectured here at least once before this after
he became famous, for the BrattlebDrO Ia
gle, in abiding b. this incident, mentions
this as "the second time he has taken the
same method of reaching our village. The
Eagle mentions the lecture in highly appre
ciative terms aud concludes its notice by
saying that 1.-The allusion Of the speaker 10
our village as being the place where he
made his first public address, and the beau
ties which he had here seen with such keen
relish that their remembrance still retained
/ prominent place in his recOectiOns, was
well timed and gave evident satisfaction.
As contrasting the methods Of 33 years
ago with those Of the present it Is Of inter
est 10 note that the Eagles editorial an
nouncement of the lecture the week before
/ it was given says that "ln order that all
may be provided with an opportunity 10
| hear him, 50 far as the capacity Of the
| house will allow, a limited number Of tick
cts has been provided, and they are now
/ for sale. The practice of taking money at
the door will he dispensed with ON this 90
/ casion
The lecture course ia which Mr.. Beecher
! spoke on this occasion is believed tO have
been the first one attempted in Brattleboro
and the leading platform men of the DAY
appeared in it, Mr. C.. f. Thompson, who
was its chief promoter, recalls the fact
that a great snow storm prevailed on the
evening of Mr.. Beecher's lecture and re
members well the hearty, unconventional
way in which the great orator responded
| Pm the man, to his interrogative saluta
ton, Mr. Beecher = rs he met him pillow
ing his way up from the station in the
binding snow.
Further search Of the I'D Messenger files
Of 1888 shows that some Interested ami
patriotic citizen sent column account Of
the Independence day celebration 10 that
paper, in which il is said that the morning
exercises at Mr.. McGee's meeting house
/ were very interesting. The singing ami
address afforded pleasure 10 all such a. rel
ish sobriety and sentiment. The poison
Gus, facilitating and ruinous nature and
effects of ardent spirits were ingeniously
portrayed 10y Mr. Beechern
The mid day exercises Grafton, etc, at
Rev Addison Browns meeting house was
evidently of the genuine feryid Fourth
uf-July' type.
Mr. Rcecher snake aisain Mt the afternoon
Sunday school meeting lat Mr.. McGee 4,
meeting house, following the regular al
dress" by Mr.. John c. Holbrook. THE
meeting was likewise addressed by VIM. X.
Hayes, Esq, Mr. Anthony Van Doom, Mr..
Joseph Steen and Frederick Van Doom.
The music at Mr. Mc(iee's meeting
house was conducted by Mr. David Mar
shall, and at Rev. Mr.. Browns by Mr. II.
Ford, and was no small addition to the ex
ercises of the day and gained the general
appreciation Of all present"